Why has the samurai sword always been such a powerful symbol of Japanese culture? Dr. Inazo Nitobe, the man pictured on Japan's 5,000-yen note, tried to answer that question for the world. As a Japanese diplomat at the League of Nations, he was asked by a western colleague how - without religious instruction - the Japanese could teach their children right from wrong. So in the year 1900, Dr. Nitobe wrote a book in English called Bushido - the code of the samurai. He wrote that this warrior code became the credo by which most Japanese lived their lives. And, he wrote, just as the code of the samurai is the soul of Japan, the sword is the soul of the samurai. For Dr. Nitobe, the sword is a work of art that represents the soul of the samurai. But originally the sword was not the samurai's weapon of choice. In the beginning, they fought from horseback, and their skill was with the bow and arrow. So why did the sword, not the bow and arrow, become so important to the samurai and to Japan? To find the answer we must go deep into the history and legends of this ancient land.

Live at Art D’Lugoff’s Top of the Gate, a previously unreleased recording captured over a half century ago consists of two blistering sets recorded at the legendary venue in October, 1968. Digitally remastered from the original tapes, the album features one of jazz’s most prominent trios – pianist Bill Evans, drummer Marty Morell and bassist Eddie Gomez. This dazzling collection of jazz standards and classics from the Great American Songbook includes the standouts, “'Round Midnight,” “My Funny Valentine,” “Someday My Prince Will Come,” “Mother of Earl,” “Emily” and much more. Displaying their infectious energy and raw synergy, the album marks the only Evans recording ever released from The Village Gate. This stellar download has already been declared one of jazz’s greatest discoveries and is a vital addition to any collection.

Highly regarded amongst critics, Art Blakey revolutionized the jazz scene, paving the way for those he mentored. Captured at a pivotal moment in the ensemble’s history, Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers is a full display of the group’s undeniable chemistry. Blakey is joined by jazz legends, Wayne Shorter (tenor saxophone), Lee Morgan (trumpet), Curtis Fuller (trombone), Bobby Timmons (piano) and Jymie Merritt (bass). With Blakey’s prominent drumming, the group performs classics including the hard swinging number “Alamode,” the standard “Invitation” and the lively “Circus.” This is essential listening for any music fan.

"Law Of The Order" is a CD that is hard to categorize. This isn’t your typical hair metal. It isn’t flamboyant enough to be glam (but they sure tried to market the band that way). This is more of a straight forward hard rock cd, and a very good one at that. "Law Of The Order" is one of those CD’s that you truly need to hear to appreciate. There are several really good songs on this disc including Paris Calling, Somebody’s Falling, Get Some Strange, Passion to Ashes, and an excellent jamming cover of the Fleetwood Mac tune, The Chain.

In the picturesque Bavarian town of Oberammergau, two friends, Markus and Thomas, are using the instructions found in an old Jewish diary to gain access to a WW II underground military base formerly codenamed: CERUSIT. Used by the Nazis as a secret research institute, there are shrouded rumors to this day about the lost gold of the Third Reich. The entrance to the cave system, however, lies right within the restricted area of a U.S. military base.. the first of many problems Markus and Thomas will have to face. Equipped only with a two-way-radio and a 3D camera, Markus penetrates the restricted area and manages to locate the entrance to the underground facility and later, the secret base. But what Markus does not know is that through his efforts, he has not only drawn the attention of the US Military.. but something else that has managed to survive in exile for over 70 years without luxuries… especially food. For Markus, it has now become race of life and death.

A sprawling double album, Frank Black's Teenager of the Year builds on the clever, carefully crafted pop he forged on his solo debut and moves even farther away from the Pixies' sound. It feels like the album Black wanted to make since Bossanova…

Gin introduces the reader to the global artisan gin revolution, highlighting the spirit’s history and the ways that today’s craft drinks-makers have transformed the notion of what a gin can and should be.